summer projects

Have you ever cleaned a chandelier?

Not just any chandelier - but a true antique, crystal one from the early 1900's?

I can now say...

I have!  ~~~  Two!

 It turns out - you are supposed to meticulously remove each separate crystal (without bumping) and handwash in scalding water with mild detergent, careful to dry quickly to avoid water spots.  Each crystal hangs delicately from an old wire (brass? lead?) looped through a teeny tiny wheel of bent wire.  Precariously standing on top of a step-stool, this is delicious work!

Detailed. Slow. Methodic. Very ZEN.

I loved it!

And the results?

Dazzling!  Unbelievable.

BEFORE (above)

AFTER (above)

Check out how much more the ceiling is lit!

This is the summer of being home - and therefore, of home projects.  I am not leaving a nook or cranny unchecked. And there is no hurry.  (If only I had an endless budget to do what this place REALLY needs!) :) 

Bear with me -- or click off this post. It's a bit boring.

new IKEA desk!  Can I tell you how HAPPY this makes me?

new curtain for laundry closet - measured, iron-hemmed and ironed, thank you very much!

grandpa's chair in a cozy corner with one of my favorite photos from Nepal

ah! Now THAT's a good lookin' corner!

new mirror that I've pined for over 6 months.  Changed all the wall hangings downstairs to coordinate. And you are looking at a new hand-me-down couch that I LOVE. (ikea pillow)

 Sarah - you'll appreciate this next photo.  What a transformation from October, huh? :)



whalah!



Ains' favorite art table - currently for trains - in the living room space which she loves.

entryway cleared out, long mirror hung (it used to be elsewhere)   Now if I could only get new carpets....

cluttery - but what we've got - shoe storage right near the front door.  Green basket for seasonal attire (sunhats or snow hats, etc)

cleaned, dusted, and simplified toy bins (now if we can train daddy how to keep them that way during his frantic clean-ups...)

$5 laundry bag to store bath toys [and re-caulked tub]

much better bath storage! (Again, Sarah, you'll appreciate this one.)

Daddy's new fogless shaving mirror.

back "yard" -- even the shed is totally cleaned out and organized!  Last week, you couldn't even set one foot in there. Literally!  Thank you, honey - impressive stamina on that project!

don't forget the kitchen!  Incorporated Grandma's China (finally!)  Oh, and spent an entire 3 hours scrubbing each cupboard. Much, much better.

Ains wanted to do some 're-arranging' too - she devised this fancy improvement to her red chair with masking tape and a ziploc baggie. :)

and....

The BIG one!

BEFORE



AFTER

I painted it!   Now... on to the upstairs!